BOTTI DOESN`T TAX CUE-CARD HOLDER

Hugh DelliosCHICAGO TRIBUNE

President Bush`s visit to Du Page County Tuesday left at least one of his adoring onlookers speechless.

Even before Bush`s four-helicopter entourage landed at the College of Du Page in Glen Ellyn, state and local Republican candidates were milking the opportunity to glad-hand and woo the estimated crowd of more than 8,000 gathered in the college`s physical education building.

The organizers of the Jim Edgar for Governor rally were even kind enough to bring Aldo Botti, the GOP`s candidate for County Board chairman, up to the microphone to say hello.

Botti came forward, cleared his throat, and said, ''Hello.'' Then he walked off stage.

That could be the best speech of this year`s campaign. It`s also the only speech Botti`s made that didn`t mention taxes.

Other GOP faithful in attendance were County Coroner Richard Ballinger, County Board candidates Roger Kotecki and Robert Heap, current board member Judith Crane Ross, and Botti campaign manager Chris Robling, who forced his way through the crowd to shake hands with the president.

In the pre-event hype, one local newspaper promised that Roger Rabbit would be there, but the bashful cartoon bunny was n-n-n-nowhere to be seen. Maybe the paper meant Eddie Rabbitt, the country singer who serenaded the crowd.

Security was tight, with police surrounding the college campus and surveying the area from atop several campus buildings. Firefighters stood around the helicopter landing site, two in silvery flame-retardant suits. Folks as far away as Naperville reported seeing security choppers patroling the area.

Among those handing out leaflets outside the field house were members of the Illinois Marijuana Initiative, which is fighting to legalize marijuana weed in the U.S., and followers of imprisoned political extremist Lyndon LaRouche.

Members of Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environment, the leading foes of Du Page`s two landfills, were prevented by Addison Township GOP chairman Patrick Durante from displaying a banner and distributing fliers explaining their position.

''We made it very clear-no banners, no signs or anything in the hall without permission,'' said Durante. ''We said we`d rather you not come in if you are going to be waving signs and doing things like that.

''It is a political piece of literature they were handing out,'' he said. A parting shot

The dispossessed rarely get to utter the last word when the big, bad government grabs their land by eminent domain. But then, most of them don`t have a marquee in their front yard, either.

Du Page County Forest Preserve District workers will soon be moving into Brookwood Country Club, which the district took over early Tuesday morning. And when they do, they`re going to have to take down the following message, left on the club`s marquee:

''Another forest preserve goof with your tax $.''

Brookwood is in Wood Dale near the homes of county Republican Chairman James ''Pate'' Philip and district President Ray Soden, who pushed for the takeover of the golf course. The purchase cost taxpayers over $10 million.

Good fences make . . .

When Elmhurst Ald. Charles Hegarty took his oath of office, he vowed to uphold the Constitutions of the U.S. and the State of Illinois as they are. But he apparently sees fit to uphold local laws as he thinks they ought to be.

Hence, Elmhurst residents will be paying an attorney to take their loyal servant Hegarty to court, where he faces a fine up to $500.

Elmhurst, you see, has an ordinance saying one cannot erect a 6-foot-high fence more than 24 feet long. The fence at Hegarty`s home on St. Charles Road goes down the yard line, around the back, and hooks up again with his house on the other side-a distance that few could mistake as 24 feet.

The alleged infraction was discovered on a secret mission undertaken by city inspectors last January at the behest of Mayor Charles Garrigues. While the mayor`s City Council opponents smelled politics, Garrigues said he was just trying to dispel rumors that several aldermen had illegal fences.

Hegarty has since refused to take down the fence, so now the Elmhurstgate scandal has been turned over to the city attorney for prosecution in court.

Hegarty rightly points out that the city is trying to update a fence code that may be too strict. The public servant`s privacy just couldn`t wait.